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Work capability assessment

Photo: You will be sent a questionnaire which asks about your health and disabilities

The work capability assessment is used to decide whether or not you are fit for work. It is used for Universal Credit and ESA benefits. Depending on the outcome of the assessment you can receive extra money or support with finding a job. For Universal Credit it can affect what activities you have to do under your Claimant Commitment. 

The work capability assessment involves: 

  • A questionnaire - called either an ESA50 or a UC50
  • A face-to-face medical assessment 

When you apply for ESA you will be sent an ESA50 questionnaire. If you are applying for Universal Credit you should let your work coach know if you have limited capability to work because of a disability or health condition and request a UC50. Both forms will ask you questions about your health and disabilities and how they affect you.

An independent assessor will look at your questionnaire along with any other reports or other evidence you send in. They may also contact professionals like doctors or audiologists who support you. The assessor can then ask to meet you for a face-to-face medical assessment, where they should ask you questions about your typical day and any problems you have. The assessor will then send their report to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), who will make a decision about which group you are in.

If you are asked to attend an assessment get advice about the process. It’s similar to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) so you need to remember the assessor may not be deaf aware.

For more information from about filling in the form and face-to-face assessments see Citizens Advice

If you score enough points the DWP will put you in one of two groups based on how much your disability affects your ability to work:

  • Work related activity group (WRAG) – you can work with a bit of support but would need help with activities like writing CVs. 
  • Limited capability for work related activity (LCWRA or Support group) – have difficulty doing some activities involved with work.

The threshold is quite high but some deaf people can qualify based on their deafness alone. If you have limited capability for work it can mean extra money in Universal Credit and more support to find work and less risk of being sanctioned (losing money because you didn't do something) because of your deafness.

If you score enough points (see descriptors below) in the work capability assessment you might get extra money or support depending on which group you are in. 

  • If you are a student who receives Personal Independence Payments (PIP) you'll be allowed to apply for Universal Credit.
  • If you have paid enough national insurance credits and have to stop working you might receive Employment and Support Allowance.
  • If you meet the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) criteria you'll receive extra money on your employment and support allowance and on a universal credit claim.
  • It might be easier to get support from your work coach looking for work by qualifying for work programmes.

Most decisions can be appealed but before doing this you should check the reason why and get some advice. 

The first stage is to apply for a mandatory reconsideration which means asking the DWP to look at their decision again. This should be done within a month and you will need to outline your reasons why you think they are wrong. If they don’t change their mind you can appeal to the independent tribunal service. Find out more about challenging work capability assessment decisions (Disability Rights UK).

Descriptors are activities which someone finds difficult or cannot do reliably and safely. Remember if you have other conditions, such as anxiety, this might mean more activities apply to you.

The most relevant descriptors for people who are deaf for the first part the work related activity group:

Activity 6

Making yourself understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.

  • 6(a) Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard. Score 15
  • 6(b) Has significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers. Score 15
  • 6(c) Has some difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers. Score 6
  • 6(d) None of the above applies. Score 0

Activity 7

Understanding communication by:

  • (i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone;
  • (ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16-point print or Braille) alone; or
  • (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), using any aid that is normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.
  • 7(a) Cannot understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire escape, due to sensory impairment. Score 15
  • 7(b) Has significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment. Score 15
  • 7(c) Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment. Score 6
  • 7(d) None of the above applies. Score 0

Activity 8

Navigation and maintaining safety using a guide dog or other aid if either or both are normally or could reasonably be used.

  • 8(a) Unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 15
  • 8(b) Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 15
  • 8(c) Unable to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 9
  • 8(d) None of the above applies. Score 0

Activity 15 (This is about how you feel for example if you become anxious and need someone to accompany you on unfamiliar routes.)

Getting about

  • 15(a) Cannot get to any place outside the claimant’s home with which the claimant is familiar. Score 15
  • 15(b) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is familiar, without being accompanied by another person. Score 9
  • 15(c) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is unfamiliar without being accompanied by another person. Score 6
  • 15(d) None of the above applies. Score 0

Descriptors: Second part limited capability for work related activity

Activity 6: Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally, or could reasonably be, used, unaided by another person.

  • Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.

Activity 7: Understanding communication by hearing, lip reading, reading 16 point print or using any aid if reasonably used.

  • Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape.

Activity 1Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally or could reasonably be worn or used.

Activity 2: Standing and sitting.

Activity 3: Reaching.

Activity 4: Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms.

Activity 5: Manual dexterity.

Activity 6: Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.

Activity 7: Understanding communication by: (i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone; (ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16-point print or Braille) alone; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), using any aid that is normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.

Activity 8: Navigation and maintaining safety using a guide dog or other aid if either or both are normally or could reasonably be used.

Activity 9: Absence or loss of control whilst conscious leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting), despite the wearing or use of any aids or adaptations which are normally or could reasonably be worn or used.

Activity 10: Consciousness during waking moments.

Activity 11: Learning tasks.

Activity 12: Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects).

Activity 13: Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).

Activity 14Coping with change.

Activity 15: Getting about.

Activity 16: Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.

Activity 17: Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.